Kemenko PMK Organized a FGD on Women’s Empowerment in Rural Areas

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) organized a FGD on women’s empowerment in rural areas, aiming to strengthen gender equality policies across Indonesia and enhance women’s roles in inclusive village development.

The coordinator, the Ministry of Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK), held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) from 6 to 8 November 2024 in Jakarta to evaluate and develop policies for women’s empowerment in rural areas. This initiative aims to advance inclusive and sustainable development at the grassroots level by highlighting the role of women in driving village progress.

The FGD, themed “Strengthening Women’s Empowerment in Village Development”, provided a platform for participants to review existing empowerment policies and identify ways to promote gender equality at both national and community levels. “The aim of this FGD is to re-evaluate existing policies on women’s empowerment and promote the optimization of gender equality not only at the national scale but also at the village level,” said Acting Secretary Eni Rukawiani. Regional Development Equity and Disaster Management at Kemenko PMK.

Kemenko PMK sees the empowerment of women in villages as a vital component in achieving sustainable national development. This aligns with the fourth pillar of the Prabowo-Gibran administration’s Astacita vision, which prioritizes gender equality as a core national goal. Strengthening the role of women in rural development is seen as essential for developing communities that are resilient, inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of all citizens.

The FGD used a qualitative approach to gather views from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from central government, local authorities and women’s groups. Participants discussed empowerment concepts and practical strategies that can guide village officials when formulating participatory and inclusive development plans. This approach ensures that women’s voices are integrated into planning and implementation processes by emphasizing grassroots participation.

Elan Satriawan, Head of Policy Team of the National Team for Accelerating Poverty Alleviation (TNP2K), underlined the urgency of mainstreaming gender equality in Indonesia. “Although Indonesia has established numerous regulations and ratified international agreements on gender equality, inequalities are still very serious,” she said. One significant indicator is that the labor force participation rate of women is only 54.4 percent, significantly lower than the 84 percent participation rate among men. This statistic highlights the continuing need for policy interventions that can close these gender inequalities, especially in rural areas where women often face additional social and economic barriers.

In addition to Kemenko PMK representatives, the forum included participants from various government and non-governmental organizations such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs Coordination, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan). This cross-sector collaboration reflects a shared commitment to accelerate the creation of villages that are more inclusive and responsive to gender equality issues.

Discussions also focused on the implementation and dissemination of successful retrofit practices across regions. Participants emphasized the importance of developing local leadership and governance capacities to create a supportive environment for women’s economic participation, education and health. By ensuring the active participation of women in decision-making processes, rural communities can benefit from a more balanced and representative development process.